Rolling curtain



June 3, 1952 E. TOMIETTO ROLLING CURTAIN Filed July 15, 1947 IN V ENTOR.

Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Elia Tomietto, BuenosAires,. Argentinav Application July 15, 1947, Serial N0. 761,121. InArgentina July 19, 19.46

(Cl. 16i]18.0)

7 Claims.

The present invention refers toimprovements in or relating to rollingcurtains of the kind comprising: an emergency: door. Rolling curtainsconsisting of. a network of metal rods are known in which each rodextends in a substantially horizontal zig-zag line and. is joined at itsupper and lower vertexes to-the vertexes of each adjacent rod. by meansof tubular links permitting: a free. pivotal movement of each rod. aboutthe; horizontal axis of said tubular link so that the rolling, curtainmay be wound up on a drum provided at the. upper end of the same. Sincecurtai-ns of. this kind are mainly used at the entrances, show cases,windows, and the like, of shops, it-is advisable to provide the samewith an emergency door or gate allowing a person to enter or leave the.shop even though. the curtain be down. Up to now these emergency doorswere inserted. in an opening of the curtain and angle irons or V-shapedbars-were employed to form the I joint between. the lateral sides. ofthe opening and the. door, the latter being hinged tov these bars orirons so as to allow it to be opened or closed.

Obviously, the use of these V-shaped' bars or angle irons rendersimpossible the winding up of the curtain, because of the rigidity ofthese bars, so that the curtain can be lifted only up to a given height.Moreover, the use of these bars increases considerably the weight andthe cost of the curtain. Further the assembly of the. door andv curtainrequires a considerable amount of work in order that the joint beinviolable which, of course, is an important factor in. connection withthese curtains which constitute safety devices.

One object of the present invention is to provide an emergency door forcurtains of the kind specified which can be wound up together with thecurtain. Another object is to bring about this result without adverselyaffecting the security of the curtain, to decrease at the same time theweight and expense, and to simplify the work involved in assembling thevarious parts".

In order to achieve these and other objects, which will be apparent fromthe detailed description given below, according to the presentinvention, the ends of the zig-zag shaped rods at the sides of theopening in the curtain and the ends of the zig zag shaped rods at thelateral side of the door are bent in such way that they extendin avertical direction. Adjacent horizontal sections are joined together bymeans of tubular or annular members that allow a free pivotal movementof the rods on a horizontal axis while the bent vertical ends, of therods of the curtain are joined to the bent vertical ends of the rods ofthe door, at one lateral side of the door, by means of annular, membersthat allow a pivotal movement of the door about a vertical axis.

Further. features of the invention will; become apparent from the.fol-lowing. detailed description thereof, inwhichv reference. will. bmade o the accompanying drawings which, show a preferred manner ofcarrying the. invention into practice, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of the curtain with the emergencydoor provided therein;

Figure 2 is a transversal; cross sectional view of one of the joints bywhich. the door is connected to the network of the curtain;

Fig. 2a is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 2a.2a of Fig.2;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section of the joint shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 3a is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken on. line 3a--3a ofFig. 3;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross section of one of the joints at. theopposite lateral side of the door;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a preferred lock for the emergency door orgate;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the, lock shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the lock shown inFig, 5;

Figs. 8', 9, 10 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of threedifferent embodiments of the joints hinging the curtain to the door.

Throughout the several figures. thev same reference characters have beenemployed in order to designate equal or corresponding parts of theassembly, as shown.

With reference to Figure 1, it will. be seen that the curtain and doorassembly comprises a curtain made from horizontally arranged metal rodsA each of which defines a horizontal zig-zag line. Each rod A isconnected. to the adjacent rods at the upper and lower vertices of thezig-zag line by means of a tubular link B which permits relative pivotalmovement of adjacent rods about the horizontal axis of said tubular linkB so that the whole curtain may be wound up on a drum or the likearranged at the upper end of the curtain.

The emergency door C consists of a similar net of horizontal rods Ajoined in a similar way by means of tubular members B.

The curtain is formed with an opening having the shape and size of adoor C. The ends of the horizontal rods A are bent at the two lateralsides of the opening toform substantially vertical extensions D. Each ofthese ends is connected to the end of an adjacent rod A by means of thering-shaped link members B which, in a similar way as the links B, alloweach of the rods to pivot about an horizontal axis, whereby the curtainmay be wound up.

The ends of the rods A constituting the network of the door are in asimilar way joined by means of the link members B.

At one of the lateral sides of the door, namely at the left hand side ofFigure 1, additional link members E have been arranged to connectthedoor to the ends of the rods confining the aperture. These annular linkmembers E (see Figures 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10) encircle the verticalextensions Dso that they allow the door to turn or pivot about avertical axis, whereby the door'can be opened or closed. 7

The annular link members E are connected to the vertical vertex portionsD, as shown in Figs. 8,9andl0.

In the first of these embodiments, one or more of the ends D of bars Aare bent back beyond their strictly vertical position whereby thesleeves or annular members E are definitely retained in their positionto support the door. In practice, the sleeves or annular members E arefirst put on. the ends D and thereafter these are bent back to lockmembers E in their position.

In the second embodiment, one or more of the extensions D aresubstantially vertical, but their outer ends are bent back at almost 180so as to form hook-like ends whereby the members E are locked in theirposition.

In the third embodiment, annular members E are welded to one of theextensions D, preferably to the one belonging to the door, so that theycan freely swing around the other one. I

At the opposite lateral side the members E are missing but a lockingelement has been provided which is shown clearly and in detail inFigures 5 to 7. This element comprises two bars F, G, of rectangularcross section fixed to the door and to the network of the curtain bymeans of clamps H. There is further a bolt, latch or similar member Iwhich allows one of the bars vto be secured to the other one in whichposition they may be locked together by a key. 7

With regard to Figures 5 to '7 it will 'be appreciated that bars F and Gare removably fixed together, with the corresponding part of the networkbetween them, by means of clamp H (Figure 7), that is, the networkadjacent to the borderline between door and curtain is in the spacebetween F and G. Bar F is provided with a handle H and bar G comprises(Figure 5) ,a latch receiving member into which the latch is insertedwhen it is desired to lock the door with akey. 7

It will be evident that the use of the linking rings or sleeves B and Eat one of the lateral sides of the door provides a hinge-like joint (inwhich the members E provide the axis about which the door may pivot orturn) which, however, does not hinder in any way the winding up of thedoor in conjunction with the curtain.

In order to, lift the curtain it is sufficient to remove the bars G andF, which are the only rigid parts that would obstruct the winding up ofthe curtain so that after the removal of the same the desired operationmay be carried out without any inconvenience, since the hinges formed bythe links E do not hamper the same in any way.

It will be evident that several modifications may be introduced in theembodiment shown and described, without departin from the basic idea ofthe invention. Thus, for instance, it will be possible to bend back theouter ends of the extensions D at angles of up to so that the annularmembers E be confined by the thus formed hook-like ends. If desired, inaddition to this, the members E may be welded in order to fix themsolidly to their respective rods. Instead of the bars represented in thedrawing any other locking means may be employed, such as for instance asimple latch which will be horizontally arranged so as to be no obstacleto the operation of winding up the curtain, or a chain and a padlock maybe simply used.

All these variations and others that will be obvious tothose familiarwith the art are desired to be included within the scope of the annexedclaims which, therefore, should be interpreted and construedaccordingly.

What I claim is:

1. A double axis hinge arrangement for hingedly attaching to each otherfour portions.

of a flat partition having four corners meeting in a common pivotingpoint turnably selectively about a first and a second axis intersectingeach other at a right angle at said common pivoting point, said doubleaxis hinge arrangement including four hook-shaped members, each securedto a different one of said four portions of said flatpartition so thatthe vertices of said hookshaped members face each other and the freeends of said hook-shaped members form two pairs of parallel end portionsextending parallel to said first axis; two first pivoting means, eachturnably pivoting the end portions of a different one of said pairs ofparallel end portions to each other turnably about said first axis; andtwo second pivoting means each turnably pivoting the vertices of adifferent hook-shaped member to the vertex of the correspondinghook-shaped member located on the other side of said second axis ofturning.

2. A rectangular rolling curtain, comprising in combination, arectangular top portion; a first rectangular elongated lateral portionlocated at one side of the curtain extending downwardly from the loweredge of said top portion; a second rectangular elongated lateral portionlocated at the other side of the curtain extending downwardly from thelower edge of said top portion, parallel to said first rectangularlateral portion spaced therefrom and defining with the same and withsaid top portion a rectangular elongated door opening in the rollingcurtain; a rectangular elongated door portion having a perimeter fittinginto said door opening, each of said portions of the rolling curtainbeing composed of a plurality of substantially horizontally extendingzig-zag shaped rods, each of said zig-zag shaped rods including aplurality of equally spaced vertex portions, the vertex portions of twoadjacent zig-zag shaped rods being located adjacent to each other, theintermediate vertex portions of said zig-zag shaped rods extending in asubstantially horizontal direction, and the end vertex portions of saidzig-zag shaped rods being bent away from the adjacent end vertex portionof the adjacent zig-zag shaped rods'and composed of a bent portion and asubstantially vertical portion; a: plurality of horizontallyextendingtubu lar members Having a length slightly shorter than thelength of said inter-mediate horizontal vertex portions,- each orsaid'liofiiz'ontally extending tubular members encircling twoadjacentintermediate horizontal vertex portions of two adjacent zig-zagshaped rods of each of said portions, and of the' lowermost zig-zagshaped rod of said top portion and of the uppermost zigzag shaped rodsof said lateral portions and hingedly connecting the same so as topermit rolling of the curtain about a horizontal axis; a plurality ofring members having substantially horizontal axes, each of said ringmembers encircling the adjacent bent portions of two adjacent" endvertex portions of two adjacent zig zag rods and" hingedly connectingthesame; a plurality of annular members having substantially vertical axeshingedly connecting one of said lateral portions to said door portion,each of said annular members encircling the adjacent vertical portionsof the end vertex portions of one zig-zag rod of said one lateralportion and of one zig-zag rod of said door portion located on the samelevel as said one zig-zag rod of said lateral portion so that said doorportion may be turned about a vertical axis passing through saidvertically extending annular members; and means retaining each of saidannular members on one end vertex portion.

6. ing substantially vertical axes hingedly connecting onecf saidlateralportions to saiddoor portion each 01 said annular members encircling theadjacent vertical portions of the end vertexat one zig zag. rodof saidone lateral and: of one zig-zag rod of said door porti'on locatedon thesame level as said one zigzag rod of said lateral portion so that saiddoor portionrfiay be turned' about a vertical axis passi n'g throughsaid vertically extending annular members; means retaining" each of saidannular members on one": end vertexportion; and closure for disengaeably' connecting the other of said letters-1 p0 bi ls to said doorportion so as to pesmitlock y of the door;

4;. A rectangular rolling" curtain, comprising in comb""afior i,-- arectangular top portion; a first r ectangmar ldfigafed lateral portionlocated at 3. A rectangular rolling curtain, comprising in combination,a rectangular top portion; a first rectangular elongated lateral portionlocated at one side of the curtain extending downwardly from the loweredge of said top portion; a second rectangular elongated lateral portionlocated at the other side of the curtain extending downwardly from thelower edge of said top portion, parallel to said first rectangularlateral portion spaced therefrom and defining with the same and withsaid top portion a rectangular elongated door opening in the rollingcurtain; a rectangular elongated door portion having a perimeter fittinginto said door opening, each of said portions of the rolling curtainbeing composed of a plurality of substantially horizontally extendingzig-zag shaped rods, each of said zig-zag shaped rods including aplurality of equally spaced vertex portions, the vertex portions oftwoadjacent zig-zag shaped rods being located adjacent to each other, theintermediate vertex portions of said zig-zag shaped rods extending in asubstantially horizontal direction, and the end vertex portions of saidzigzag shaped rods being bent away from the adjacent end vertex portionof the adjacent zigza shaped rods and composed of a bent portion and asubstantially vertical portion; a plurality of horizontally extendingtubular member having a length slightly shorter than the length of saidintermediate horizontal vertex portions, each of said horizontallyextending tubular members encircling two adjacent intermediatehorizontal vertex portions of two adjacent zig-zag shaped rods of eachof said portions, and of the lowermost zig-zag shaped rods of said topportion and of the uppermost zig-zag shaped rods of said lateralportions and hingedly connecting the same so as to permit rolling of thecurtain about a horizontal axis; a plurality of rin members havingsubstantially horizontal axes, each of said ring members encircling theadjacent bent portions of two adjacent end vertex portions of twoadjacent zig-zag rods and hingedly connecting the same; a plurality ofannular member havone side or the curtain extendingdownwardly from thelower edge of said top portion; a second rectangular elongated lateralportion located at the other side of the curtain extending downwardlyfrom the lower edge of said top portion parallel to said firstrectangular lateral portion spaced therefrom and defining with the sameand with said top portion a rectangular door opening in the rollingcurtain; a rectangular elongated door portion having a perimeter fittinginto said door opening, each of said portions of the rolling curtainbeing composed of a plurality of substantially horizontally extendingzig-zag shaped rods, each of said zig-zag shaped rods including aplurality of equally spaced vertex portions, the vertex portions of twoadjacent zig-zag shaped rods being located adjacent to each other, theintermediate vertex portions of said zig-zag shaped rods extending in asubstantially horizontal direction, and the end vertex portions of saidzig-zag shaped rods being bent away from the adjacent end vertex portionof the adjacent zig-zag shaped rods and composed of a bent portion and asubstantially vertical portion; a plurality of horizontally extendingtubular members having a length slightly shorter than the length of saidintermediate horizontal vertex portions, each of said horizontallyextending tubular member encircling two adjacent intermediate horizontalvertex portions of two adjacent zig-zag shaped rods of each of saidportions, and of the lowermost zig-zag shaped rods of said top portionand of the uppermost zig-zag shaped rods of said lateral portions andhingedly connecting the same so as to permit rolling of the curtainabout a horizontal axis; a plurality of ring members havingsubstantially horizontal axes, each of said ring members encircling theadjacent bent portions of two adjacent end vertex portions of twoadjacent zig-zag rods and hingedly connecting the same; a plurality ofannular members having substantially vertical axes hingedly connectingone of said lateral portions to said door portion, each of said annularmembers encircling the adjacent vertical portions of the end vertexportions of one zig-Zag rod of said one lateral portion and of onezig-zag rod of said door portion lcated on the same level as said onezig-zag rod of said lateral portion so that said door portion may beturned about a vertical axis passing through said vertically extendingannular members; means retaining each of said annular members on one endvertex portion; two substantially vertically extending bars disposed atthe front and at the rear of said curtain and extending over theadjacent edges of the other lateral portions and said door portion; andlocking means for releasably securing said bars to each other and to thecurtain for locking said door portion to said other lateral portion.

5. A rolling curtain as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said annularmembers is retained by a hook-shaped end portion of one of said adjacentvertical portions of the end vertex portions of one zig-zag rod of saidone lateral portion and of one zig-zag rod of said door portin lcated onthe same level.

6. A rolling curtain as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said annularmembers is rigidly secured to one of said adjacent vertical portions ofthe end vertex portions of one zig-zag rod of said one lateralportion'and of one zig-zag rod of said door portion located on the samelevel.

7; A rolling curtain as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said annularmember is rigidly REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 236,124 Washburn Dec. 28, 1880702,888 Skinner June 17, 1902 812,722 Cahill Feb. 13, 1906 888,862Wilson May 26, 1908 1,506,508 Sterchele Aug. 26, 1924

